Wood flooring



Patented 1936` UNITED sTATEs"\ woop momo.

' George E. Murphy and Walter M. Hippler, Portland, Oreg., assignors, by mesne assignments, to. Evans Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a` l, corporation of Delaware y Application April 21, 1932, Serial No. 606,566

RenewedSeptember 9, 1935 s claims. (o1. :ao-15j new andnovel manner not used'heretofore.

Generally our invention consists in the use of a plurality of relatively thin layers of wood joined together, alternately placing side by sidev a layer of end grain wood, that is with the grain running vertically, and a layer of side grain Wood, that is with the grain rlmning horizontally. The end grain layers, present the end of the grain for maximum wearingqualities and the n side grain layers strengthen the laminated strip against ybending and breaking Whensubjected to great weight, and uneven distribution of weight..

Numerous objects and advantages of our construction will readily become apparent throughout a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laminated wood block construtedin accordance with our invention, y A

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed exploded view of a portion of the block of Fig. 1 illustrating the alternate disposition of the cent strips,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of. a modied form of our invention, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed exploded view of a portion of the block of Fig. 3, `Fig. 5 is a section of ooring composed of blocks embodying our invention and applied to a concrete base with an adhesive, 40 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of-a section o laminated built-up strip flooring embodying our invention, y

Fig. '7 is a detailed perspective view of two of the laminated strips which are joined together to form the built-up floor shown in-Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed exploded view of one of the strips of Fig. 7, and` Fig. 9 illustrates a section ofthe built-up strip door laid on sleepers imbedded in concrete.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which' like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, the block Ill shown in Fig. 1'is composed of alternate and adjacent layers of end grain wood II and side grain wood I2, Joined together byvglue 'or other adgrain in the adjafactor.

hesive or in any other desirable manner. As best shown in Fig. 2 the layers II are relatively thin strips of grain on end, wood, that is the wood is cut so that the grain will run vertically when positioned in the block, the arrow II-a in-A 5 ldicates the direction of the grain. The layers I2 1 are relatively thin strips of side grain wood, that is, wood cut so that the grain runs longitudinally and horizontally of the strip when positioned in the block. vThe arrow I2-a indicates the direction l0 in which the grain runs.

'I'he composite block thus formed is of great wearing qualities on its upper or tread surface because of the end grain .layers o f wood, the end grain strips however do not possess .the strucl5 tural strength for load carrying particularly across a span. The side grain layers of wood possess excellent structural strength ,qualities against breakage and bending strains and stresses particularlyacross a span. Uneven'- 20 ness vin the surface of the subfloor on which the blocks are laid will often cause the block lto rest on the iioor neariits ends spanning a low spot at the center of the'block and'it is in such conditions that the structural strength 25 to support the load is needed.

The advantages of this combined side and end grain laminated construction is even more apparent in the built up strip flooring shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 which is laid across sleepers or 30 beams and spans the distance between these supports.

`In Figs. 3 and 4 we have shown'a modied form of our-invention in which the laminated wood block I Il is composed ofadjacent and al- 35 ternate layers -oi end grain strips vII and side grain strips I2 which differ from the rst described form in that the end grain st rips Il are wider than' the side grain strips I2 and are preferably a multiple of their Width. In the 40 form illustrated in the drawings the end grain llayers II are three times the width of the side grain layers I2.

The utility of this construction lies in the fact 'that in some-instances and `under some condi- 45 tions the side grain 'strip which is a fractionof the width of the end grain strip vwill be suiiicient to provide the Arequired structural strength against breakage and bending strains. Tests have shown the required proportion to-vary un- 50 der various conditions. In the form shownin Figs. 3 and 4 an end grain wearing surface isA provided which is three times the side grain area,l resulting in an unusually high wear resisting tion that the exposed tread area of side grain wood bears to the exposed tread area of the end grain wood. f

As shown in Fig. 5 these wood blocks maybe applied to a concrete subfloor I4 with a mastic or other adhesive I5 in any well known manner either by dipping the blocks in the mastic or troweling the mastic on the floor.

The built-up strip flooring illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive', is constructed by forming elongated strip; I6 of laminated wood made up of alternate adjacent layers of end grain-:wood It. and side grain wood I2 joined together by adhesive or in some other suitable manner in accordance with our invention as hereinbefore described. rIfhese strips I6 are then joined-to each other in some suitable manner. One method is shown in the drawings and consists in drilling countersunk holes I1 transversely through the strips and joining them together by nails II or other fastening devices.

The proportions of the area of side grain wood and area of end grain wood to be presented tu the wearing tread surface maybe varied in aci cordance with the prevailing requirements, thatJ is some of the end grain layers H may` than the side grain layers l2.

The great structural strengthl and load I qualities of 'side grain is thus combined with the excellent wearing qualities of endl4 grain tn form a floor of great strength and. dmahilityf.

These built-up stripviioorsi readily lend themselves for application to sleepers. or cross support beams. As shown in Fig. 9y the strips It maybe laid over beams or sleepers!! which may b e imbedded in concrete 2l if desired. It is apparent that the great strain of loadbearing required because of the span between the sleepers or beams I8 requires a strip of unusual structural strength. Extensive tests have shown that a floor constructed in accordance with our invention possesses such structural strength in addition to the wear resisting qualities of end grain wood.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance 0f the broad invention,..thc,.scope. of.ylhich is..com.

mensurate with the appended claims.

We claim: 1. A laminated wood unit Aadapted for use in oonstructingeooringrcomprising a plurality ot strips of wood of uniform length and width and disposed on edge to extend in the same direction with their up'per edges forming the man surface of the unit, some of said strips having vertically extending grain to produce a hard wear resisting tread, the remaining strips having horizontally extending grain to increase the strength of the unit, and means for fastening the strips together.-

2. A laminated wood unit adapted for use in constructing ooring comprising a plurality of strips of wood of u'niform length and width and disposed on edge to extend in the, same direction with their upper edges forming the tread surface of the unit, some of said. strips having ver.- tically extending grain to produce a hard wear resisting tread, the remaining: strips, beingf of different thickness than and` alternatelyl ar.- ranged with respect toithe firstementioned"strips and having horizontally extending totincrease the strength of the unit; and means; for fastening the strips together..

3. A laminated woodA floor comprising; a. plu'- rality ofvunits,.each unit comprising a plurality of strips of wood ofv uniform length and width and disposedv on edge.: to: extendl im the same direction with their upper edges.: forming-.- the tread surface ofi the unit., someV ofi having verticallyI extending grain tot t.; a hard wear resisting treadh the. l stripslmving horizontally extending grain to the strength. thlsunit. and means for fastening? the strips together; said` lunits being laid tn mun the floor ,with the strips of all of the units amending in the same direction.

4. A wood unit adapted for use in constructing flooring comprising a plurality of vstrips of wood: of uniform length and width and disposed on edgeto extend in the same direction with their upper edges forming the tread surface of the unit, some of said strips having vertically extending grain to produce a hard wear resisting layer, the remaining strips being thinner than the first mentioned strips and having horizontally extending vgrain to increase the strength of the unit, and means for fastening the strips together.

5. A laminated wood unit adapted for use in yconstructing flooring .comprising a plurality of strips of wood of uniform length and width and disposed on edge to extend in the same direction with their upper edges forming the tread surface ofthe unit, some of said strips having vertically extending grain to produce a hard wear resistving layer, the .remaining strips being thicker than the first mentioned strips and having horizontally extending grain to increase the strength of the unit, and means for fastening the strips together.

GEORGE E. MURPHY. l WALTER M. HIPPIER. 

